Arsenal can win Premier League, claims Wenger

The Frenchman conceded the club had not been quite good enough in years gone by to win the title but feels the additions made this summer will help close the gap to Manchester City

02.08.2014 16:19:26

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal possess the quality and confidence needed to win the Premier League title this season.
The London club had not won any silverware for nine years until they beat Hull City to lift the FA Cup at Wembley in May, while Arsenal had looked genuine contenders to win the Premier Leagu before losing their way yet again and finishing in fourth place.
Wenger made a statement of intent by bringing in Alexis Sanchez in a €40 million move from Barcelona and have since signed Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy and David Ospina.
And the Frenchman, who signed a new three-year contract in May, is bullish over his side's chances of being crowned champions of England for the first time since 2004.
He said: "I never made any excuses for Arsenal's lack of trophies. I took it on my ­shoulders.
"But I knew the situation. I accepted the challenge when I signed my contract, knowing what would happen. I thought, personally, it was the most sensitive and important period of my career here.
"It was exciting, to manage to keep the club at the top level with less resources. Did we do well or not? The only thing I can say is we were consistent at the level. But we lacked the quality to really win it. Now we have that.
"Even last season we were very close to the Premier League, just seven points behind Manchester City. Our belief has grown.
“I expect a lot but I can talk and talk - at the end it’s the performance on the pitch that will show how much chance we have to win the Premier League.
"We have more confidence than at the beginning of last season. Our ­opponents have also strengthened. It’s everybody's ambition to win the league - but only one will win it."
Wenger refused to reveal whether or not he would have walked away from Arsenal if the club had failed to beat Hull as he plots more success for the London club.
"I always said the same thing to you, that I wanted to think I had done well for the club" he added.
"My motivation was never at stake and I never questioned that. Did I want to go somewhere else? Never. I always wanted to stay.
"But I needed to feel, as well, that I had done a good job and of course the fact we couldn't win was going on in my mind. It was important for me to feel I have done a decent job."